Clamping structure for grinding machine



May 11, 1965 P. Dl LELLA ETAL CLAMPING STRUCTURE FOR GRINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. l

' INVENTORS. DI LELLA.

PAUL SIEGFRIED G. WOLF.

FIG. 2

HIS ATTORNEY.

May 11, 1965 P. Dl LELLA ETAL CLAMPING STRUCTURE FOR GRINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1962 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 m om v w n J u an. mo. my QM. m 8 Q k N9 3 1 mg on. 2. mm

PAUL

D. M .Umpun HIS ATTORNEY.

May 11, 1965 P. m LELLA ETAL CLAMPING STRUCTURE FOR GRINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PAUL DILELtA SIEGFRIED c. WOLF.

ms ATTORNEY,

United States Patent 3,182,815 CLAMRING STRUCTURE FOR GRINDHJG MACHINE Paul Di'Lella, Solvay, and Siegfried G. Wolf, Manlius,

N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to E. W. Bliss Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 232,800 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates generally to an improved grind ing machine for automatically grinding the sides of work pieces rectangular in cross section, and removing a uniform thickness of material from the work piece. The complete grinding machine is illustrated in the copending application of Di Lella, Serial Number 97,562, filed March 22, 1961, now Patent No. 3,118,254. As set forth in that application, the machine is intended particularly for grinding billets,

A second copending application of Di Lella, Serial Number 171,230, filed February 5, 1962, now Patent No. 3,128,- 888, illustrates an improved clamping structure for fixedly clamping the billet to a work piece Supporting table, which is reciprocated in a lengthwise direction to perform the grinding operation. The clamping structure and the table are reciprocated, and a grinding wheel is positioned above the table and is movable into grinding engagement with the upper surface of the clamped billet. Upon completion of the grinding of the upper surface, the grinding wheel is raised and the billet is automatically turned 90 and reclamped to fix the next adjacent surface of billet in its upward position for grinding. This procedure is repeated until all four surfaces of the billet have been ground, after which the billet is released from the clamping structure.

In operating the machines shown in the copending applications above referred to, it was found that a difiiculty was experienced occasionally in turning billets, which had excessive curvature formed therein due to warpage, or the like, this phenomena taking place during the forming operation of the billet in the steel mill.

This invention relates particularly to, and has as an object a new and improved clamping structure for clamping the billets to the table and for automatically turning the billets and selectively ejecting ground billets for further work.

More specifically, this invention relates to an improved clamping means wherein the'means for turning the billet includes billet turning assist means to insure turning of the billet regardless of the amount of war-page in the billet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selectively operable ejection means for the clamping mechanism whereby billets which need additional work, such as further grinding, or the like, may be selectively ejected from the clamping mechanism.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designates corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the billet clamping mechanism comprising the subject of the invention, with parts omitted for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional side elevational view similar to FIGURE 2 taken on an enlarged scale with the mechanism shown in the billet turning stage of operation, and e 3,182,815 Fatented May 11, 1965 FIGURES 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken looking in the direction of the arrows of lines 4-4 and 55 on FIGURE 1.

The invention, briefly described, comprises a clamping mechanism which is afiixed to a reciprocating work table in the billet grinding machine of the type described, wherein the clamping structure comprises a fixed clamping surface, or jaw, a movable clamp jaw, and an oscillating support arm. The oscillating support surface serves in its upper position to support the billet which is clamped between the movable and fixed jaws during the grinding of the upper surface of the billet. Upon completion of the grinding of the upper surface, the movable clamp jaw is released and the movable support arm is oscillated to its downward position. Due to the manner in which the billet is supported, it will rotate approximately into a pair of angular slots formed in the clamp mechanism, this rotation serving to present the next adjacent surface of the billet into a position for grinding. The support arm is then oscillated to its upward position during which time a billet turning assist means carried by the support arm exerts a force on the rearward edge of the billet to insure the turning of the billet. The billet is then reclamped, and the second surface is ground and this operation is repeated until all four surfaces have been ground. At this point, if the operator of the machine observes the need for re-working, or grinding of the billet, he may actuate ejection means to eject the ground billet rearwardly over the fixed clamping jaw, the billets being normally automatically ejected forwardly away from the fixed clamping surface. The ejection means, when actuated, operates to first unclamp the movable clamp jaw, and while the support arm is maintained in its upper supporting position and to then actuatean oscillating ejection, or kicker arm which lifts the billet upwardly and rearwardly over the fixed clamping surface.

Reference may be had to the above referred-to copending application for a more complete description of the grinding machine. The clamping structure which comprises the subject of this invention comprises two end clamps, both of which embody the same construction, and therefore an explanation of one of the clamping structures will sulfice.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-6, inclusive, the billet clamping and turning structures are mounted on a pair of side plates 52, these side plates being best seen in FIG- URES 2 and 5. Side plates 52 are aflixed to movable end clamping carriages (not shown) which are selectively positioned by the operator of the machine to grip the billet indentified by the letter B, adjacent its ends, all as is set forth in the previously copending applications.

The clamping structure comprises a pair of side plates 55 and 56, which extend in parallel spaced apart relation transversely of the reciprocating work table. The side plates 55 and 56 have a front cover plate 57 afiixed therebetween and a rear cover plate 58. Also the side plates 55 and 56 are maintained in spaced apart parallel relation by a pair of cross arms 59 and 60 afiixed between the bottom edges of the side plates, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, for example.

The rear upper edges of plates 55 and 56 incline downwardly and rearwardly as at 63, and the forward portions of the top edges of the plates incline downwardly and forwardly as at 64. The intermediate portions of the plates 55 and 56 are formed with notches having downwardly and forwardly inclining'rear walls 67, and downwardly and rearwardly inclining front wall 68, the walls 68 merging with the portions 64 by relatively short horizontal portions 69. A support bar 70 is affixed to and supported by the plate 55 in any suitable manner and the upper surface of this bar 70 is coplanar with the horizontal surfaces 69 of the side plates 55 and 56.

The upper edges of the plates 55 and 56, including surfaces 63, 64, 6'7, 68 and 69, are provided with lengthwise extending slots in which are secured by any suitable means hardened Wear strips 72.

Afiixed to the side plate 55 and the cross member 59 is 3. depending arm 74 which is provided with a clevis bracket 75. Secured to the clevis bracket 75, as by means of a pin 76, is a cylinder 77 so as to form a pivotal mount for the cylinder. An angle lever, or bell crank 'member 78 having a horizontal leg 79 and vertical leg 80 is mounted on a fixed pivot pin 81, the pin 81 being supported at its opposite ends by the side plate 55 and a support arm 82 mounted on and carried by the underside of front cover plate 57 (see FIGURE 3). The vertical leg 80 of the arm 78 is aflixed as by pin 83 to the piston rod of cylinder 77 by a clevis bracket 84. This arrangement permits the arm 78 to be oscillated about the fixed pivot point 81 so as to. bring the upper billet supporting surface of the horizontal leg 79 into alignment with the support arm 70 and the horizontal support surface 69. The upper edge of the leg 79 is also provided with a hardened wear strip 85 which is provided with a depression as at 86 to receive the forward portion of the underside of the billet B when the arm 78 is in its downward position. As will be understood, the position of the arm 78 may be controlled by the introduction of fluid pressure to the forward and rearward ends of cylinder 77.

Carried and supported by the side plate 55 and affixed thereto in any suitable manner is a cross arm 87 extending partially across the span between the two side plates 55 and 56, and the lower edge of the arm 87 isaffixed as by welding, or the like, to the rearward edge of the support arm 70. Fixedly secured to the forward surface of the arm 87 is a serrated stop or fixed clamped jaw 88 which forms a stop for the billet B when it is positioned on the support 70 and the horizontal leg 79 of arm 78, as best seen, for example in FIGURE 2.

Carried by the opposite side plate 56, as by welding, or the like, is an apertured boss 89 to pin the lower end of an arm 90 thereto as by bolt 91 to pivotally support the arm 90 (see FIGURES l and The opposite end of arm 90 is formed with an aperture to receive the ends of a bifurcated movable clamp jaw 93, as by a pin, or the like 94. The arm 90 is formed intermediate its ends with an apertured ear 95 to which a clevis bracket 96 is pivotally connected by any suitable manner to the piston rod 97 of acylinder 98. The opposite end of cylinder 98 is formed with a bracket 99 which is apertured to receive a pin 100 carried between an arm 101 mounted in upstanding fashion on cross plate 60, the opposite end of the pin 100 being carried in an aperture formed in the side plate 56, all whereby the cylinder is pivotally mounted. As will be understood, the arm 90 will oscillate about the fixed pivot point 91 by the introduction of fluid pressure into the forward and rearward ends of cylinder 98 to clamp and unclamp the billet B between the jaws 93 and 88, the arm 90 is best shown in FIGURE 5.

The operation of the cylinders 77 and 98 is such that pressure is admitted to the rear end of cylinder 98 after the pressure has been admitted to the forward end of cylinder 77 so as to first bring the support arm 79 into its horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 2, and then to clamp the billet B between the jaws 93 and 88. Upon completion of the grinding of the top surface identified by reference numeral 102, fluid pressure is admitted to the rear end of cylinder 98 to release the clamp jaw 93, as is shown in FIGURE 5. Next, pressure is admitted to the forward end of cylinder 77 to oscillate the arm 78 clockwise about pivot 81 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. Due to the fact that the center of gravity of billet B is located on the opposite side of the plane of the front edge of the support 70, the billet B will fall under the influence of gravity into the notches formed in the side plates 55 and 56 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. This will cause a partial rotation of the billet B so as to present the surface 103 of the billet for the next grinding operation. At this point, as will be seen, the lower edge of surface 102 of the billet rests in the depression 86 formed in the wear strip carried by the horizontal leg 79 of support arm 7 8.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, a support assist arm 105 is mounted on the inboard side of the horizontal leg 79 of support arm 78 in a pivotal fashion, as by a pin 106. The upper surface of the arm 105 is formed with a protuberance 108 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The arm 105 is yieldingly urged toward its upper position by means of a compression spring 110 carried by a cap member 112 fixedly secured to the arm 105, and a second cap member 114 fixedly secured to the arm 78. While this spring may be of any suitable strength, it has been found that a spring having a strength of 175 pounds in compression has functioned satisfactorily.

Referring again to FIGURE 3, support arm 105 having the protuberance 108 oscillates with arm 78 when fluid pressure is admitted to the forward end of cylinder 77 so as to supply a force to the undersurface of the billet B at the rearward edge thereof when arm 78 is oscillated to its supporting position, the forward edge of this surface of the billet resting in the depression 86, as previously explained. This arrangement serves to insure that upon downward movement of the leg 79 of arm 78, the billet B will be partially cocked or rotated by the protuberance on the assist arm so as to urge the undersurface of the billet into the depression 86, thus insuring a 90 rotation of the billet during this operation. As previously set forth, this arrangement serves to insure the turning of the billet regardless of the curvature or warpage present in the billet B.

When the arm 79 has reached its horizontal position, fluid pressure is again admitted to the front end of cylinder 98 to move the movable clamp jaw 93 into engagement with the ground surface 102 of billet B to aflix or clamp the billet against the fixed jaw 88 during the grinding operation on the surface 103, which is now uppermost, as shown in FIGURE 4.

This operation is again repeated for the remaining two surfaces of billet B so as to completely grind all surfaces of the billet. Thereupon, if all work is completed on the billet B, it is ejected in the manner described in my copending applications forwardly along the upper surface of leg 79 of support arm 78 across the 'horizontal surface 69, and down the inclined surfaces 64 into a rack, or receiving cradle.

If, however, additional work is necessary on the billet, the operator of the grinding machine may selectively discharge the billet rearwardly along the downwardly inclined surfaces 63 and into a re-work cradle, or the like (not shown). The mechanism for accomplishing this ejection comprises a cylinder 150 pivotally mounted at its rearward end on a pin 151 received through a bracket 152 carried by the rearward end of the cylinder, the pin 151 being supported at its opposite ends by an arm 116 mounted in upstanding fashion on cross plate 59, and an aperture formed in the side plate 56. The piston rod of cylinder 150, identified by reference numeral 120, is provided with a clevis bracket 122, the arms of which are connected by pin 124 to the ear 126 of an ejection arm 128. The upper end of the eject arm 128 is provided with a second ear 130 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 132 carried at its opposite ends by the cross arm 87, and an apertured boss 134 (see FIGURE 1) affixed by any suitable manner to side plate 56. As will be understood, therefore, the oscillation of the ejection arm, or kicker arm 128, may be controlled by the admission of fluid pressure to the rearward and forward ends of cylinder 150.

Normally, the arm 128 and cylinder are in the position shown in FIGURE 3. If, however, it is desired to eject the billet on tothe rear surface 63, as previously set forth, fluid under pressure is admitted to the rearward end of cylinder 150. This will cause the arm 128 to oscillate about the fixed pivot point 132 so as to lift the billet B over the fixed stop 88, and arm 87, and on to the rear discharge surface 63, asshown, for example in FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3, the downward, or clockwise movement of. the support arm 78 is limited by an arm 138 affixed to the inner side of the plate 55. The arm 138 is positioned so as to halt the clockwise movement of arm 78 in the position shown in FIGURE 3. Located beneath the arm 138 is a switch 140 mounted by means of screws, or the like, on a bracket having an up standing arm 142, the bracket being afiixed to the cross member 60. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the switch 140 is provided with an actuator 144 positioned in the line of travel of the leg 80 and with the stop 138. The energization of the switch 149 initiates the electrical and hydraulic control mechanism, which forms no part of this invention, so as to turn the billet through the sequence of operations previously described.

This sequence of operations, briefly summarized, is to first unclamp the movable clamp 93 from the position shown in FIGURE 2. Next, the support arm 78 is oscillated clockwise to move it to the position shown in FIGURE 3 to partially turn the billet B. At this point, the assist arm 165 serves to cock the billet so that the forward edge of the underside rests in depression 86 and to maintain the billet in this position during the upward movement of the support arm 78. Accordingly, as the arm 78 and assist arm 105 are oscillated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 3, to the position shown in FIGURE 4, the billet has now been turned 90 by this operation. The billet B is initially positioned in the dotted line position as shown in FIGURE 4 upon the return movement of the support arm 78, and the actuation of the movable clamp 93 serves to move the billet B into the solid line position, as shown in FIG- URE 4, in engagement with the fixed clamp surface 88 so as to present the surface 102 of the billet to the grinder. Finally, if so selected, the billet B may be discharged by operation of the cylinder 150 and eject arm 128.

What we claim is:

1. A work piece clamping and turning structure comprising a pair of side plates formed with V-shaped notches, a fixed support member fixedly mounted for supporting a portion of the underside of said work piece above said notches, said fixed support member engaging the rearward edge of said work piece upon downward movement of the work piece into said notches to effect rolling of said work piece, a fixed clamp member adjacent said fixed support member, a movable support memher, power means to eifect movement of said movable support member between an upper supporting position and a lower turning position, a depression formed in said movable support member, said movable support member in its upper position supporting said work piece above said notches on said fixed and movable support members, a movable clamp member, power means to move said movable clamp member into clamping engagement with said work piece against said fixed clamp memher, and turn assist means carried by said movable support member and operable in the lower turning position of said movable support member to yieldably urge the underside of said work piece into said depression on said support member to insure a complete turn of said Work piece.

2. A work piece clamping and turning structure, said structure including a fixed support member for engagement by an edge portion of the work piece upon downward movement thereof to effect a partial rotation of the work piece, a support arm operable upon upward movement to position the work piece with the underside thereof above said fixed support member, a fixed clamp member at one side of the fixed member, a movable clamping member movable toward and away from the first clamp member for engaging the opposite side of the Work piece when said work piece is positioned on said support with a first side in engagement with the fixed clamp jaw, the improvement comprising turning assist means carried by the movable support, said assist means being operable to yieldingly apply a force to the underside of the work adjacent the lower edge of the side to be engaged by the fixed clamp jaw.

3. A turning and clamping structure for clamping a work piece in a working machine comprising a pair of side plates formed with notches, a fixed support located above said notches for partially supporting a work piece, a movable work piece support for supporting said work piece in its upper position and for movement into a lower turning position, a fixed clamp means positioned adjacent said fixed support member and movable clamp means movable toward and from a clamping position to clamp said work piece against said fixed clamp means while said work piece is supported by said fixed and movable supports, means for moving said movable support to a lower position to cause a rolling movement of said work piece off said fixed support and into said notches, a turn assist means carried by said movable support for supplying a yieldable force to the underside of said work piece when said work piece is positioned in said notches to move said work piece into a depression formed in said support arm, said assist means continuing to supply said force to said work piece during the lifting movement of said movable support means so as to insure partial rotation of said work piece.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said turn assist means comprises an arm pivotally mounted on said movable support and yieldably urged towards an upper position by means of a spring carried between said arm and said movable support, and wherein said arm is formed with a protuberance to apply the yieldable force against the rearward portion of the work piece surface positioned on said movable support to urge said work piece into said depression formed in said movable support when said support is in said turning position.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said structure is provided with ejection means movable about said fixed clamp means to lift said work piece over said fixed clamp means, said ejection means being provided with selectively operable power means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,639 5/56 Evans.

3,096,889 7/ 63 Vekovius et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,009,145 5/57 Germany.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WORK PIECE CLAMPING AND TURNING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE PLATES FORMED WITH V-SHAPED NOTCHES, A FIXED SUPPORT MEMBER FIXEDLY MOUNTED FOR SUPPORTING A PORTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID WORK PIECE ABOVE SAID NOTCHES, SAID FIXED SUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGING THE REARWARD EDGES OF SAID WORK PIECE UPON DOWNWRD MOVEMNT OF THE WORK PIECE INTO SAID NOTCHES TO EFFECT ROLLING OF SAID WORK PIECE, A FIXED CLAMP MEMBER ADJACENT SAID FIXED SUPPORT MEMBER, A MOVABLE SUPPORT MEMBER, POWER MEANS TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT MEMBER BETWEEN AN UPPER SUPPORTING POSITION AND A LOWER TURNING POSITION, A DEPRESSION FORMED IN SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT 